Surfskate Progression 4 Years - Carver & SmoothStar

This version has commentary: • (With Commentary) Surf...
I started surfskating in 2017 to improve my surfing. Little did I know this weird ass hybrid hobby would also greatly impact my overall physical and mental health. This video features clips of my surfskate journey from when I first started in 2017 through to present day. Thanks for watching! 🏄🏻‍♂️🛹#surfskate #carver #smoothstar
Boards in this video
Carver 27" Bureo Ahi
Carver 33" Haedron No. 6
Carver 30.75” Yago Skinny Goat (2020)
SmoothStar 34” Filipe Toledo #77
Follow me on instagram! / benswtv

[@anthonystrazza4586]

I got into surf skate by trying my buddy’s and after many years of not skating at all ….instantly hooked and that was in June ..today I go out almost everyday,it’s helped me stay away from booze and basically snapped me outa a lower state of existence. Dig the video and keep it funky dude

[@Abe18874]

Hell yeah! I just started my journey. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@BenConley]

Enjoy the ride, thanks for watching!

[@ac_cobra8540]

Fire dude. Love the music at 4:30 point. Some great camera work thats really tastefully done. You captured the journey so well and also the spirit of the joy it brought you. Now I'm sold.

[@BenConley]

Thanks for watching!

[@andrewhodgson7024]

10 out of 10 for style points! (2019 onwards 😉) this a great example of how the leading hand can make all the difference, thanks bro

[@BenConley]

Lol I would even say 2021! You are exactly right lead arm position is EVERYTHING! Still have lots to improve on with that. Thanks for watching 🙏

[@kkkk1395]

love the video, both for the smooth surfskate action and the artistic content, your choice of music and how you end with a small segment of the carver c5, really takes us through of how you began and how far you've come. i totally agree that surfskating helps with mental health also. skate safe!

[@BenConley]

Thank you very much🙏 This one took longer to edit because it was much more personal. Thanks again!

[@stephentranter2528]

Time to take it to the bowl!

[@BenConley]

Yeeeeeww!

[@damianmcgeown9096]

Hey Ben just wanna say awesome job. Love to see your progression on the surfskate. Brilliant content . Keen to see you surfing some waves and the crossover . Yew

[@BenConley]

Thank you much appreciated, thanks for watching!

[@MEMSYSCH]

I’m at the beginning of my own journey on a surf skate and I wanted to say thank you so much for your wonderful and inspiring video! Cheers from Switzerland ;-)

[@BenConley]

Happy to hear it helps, good luck with your journey and thanks for watching in Switzerland!

[@WaabiiSaabii]

Love that you ended the video with you back at the apartment parking lot at your humble beginnings. Inspiring progress. Hoping you catch ALL the waves my guy

[@BenConley]

Thanks for watching until the end:) Much appreciated!!

[@Shaesi.]

Great video! Inspiring! I loved the shots too.

[@BenConley]

Thank you very much!

[@chungkim4158]

I’m just starting to surfskate and I watch this video regularly to keep motivation going through the poo wiggle stance! Love the style. Thanks for sharing!

[@BenConley]

Glad to hear it helps, thanks for watching!

[@juvucu]

Great edit, Ben! Especially the one at Venice parking lot with the wind, sand and sun! The fact you’re ripping helps too!

[@BenConley]

Thank you! Been out of the water with a little shoulder soreness but almost ready to get back out there, how's it been this month?

[@juvucu]

@@BenConley It has been a pretty solid summer so far! That’s funny-I’ve been dealing with a sore shoulder too. So using time to work on compression and extension on the surf skate. A buddy was also showing my the “tic tac” to help with generating speed when surfing. So much to learn. So little time…

[@dondevivimos]

Awesome bro. Thx for this. Is gorgeous. Cool style!

[@BenConley]

Thanks for watching!

[@MrLeeson660]

This is awesome big inspiration to keep practicing and learn to generate speed through those turns 👌

[@BenConley]

Thanks for watching!

[@nathanvilaicharoentrakul9719]

I get back to watch when in doubt from watching others. Thanks from Thailand

[@BenConley]

Thanks for watching from Thailand!

[@pawelwitkowski5160]

Fantastic video! U can really tell that you put in some hours to get where u r now! Well done! Im just starting my concrete surfing adventure with YOW and loving it!

[@BenConley]

Thank you! I just ordered my first YOW and I can't wait to get it. Will make a video, stay tuned!

[@philroubin3282]

@@BenConley look forward to seeing you ride the yow! I really like your riding style. I have the Arica which I’ve set up super loose and the dark pukas as my ‘big wave’ style board 😅 and am getting a smoothstar manta ray in the next week as there’s plenty of stock here in Australia atm. Enjoy!

[@karlrawstrone8568]

Clear evidence that surfskating is great for developing hair-growth. My surfskate journey started yesterday with the arrival of my CX.4s to put on my Poke. That scary slope outside my house has turned into an infinite small wave :) Hope I can progress as gracefully as you, but I will be protecting my tootsies at all times. Great stuff :)

[@BenConley]

Haha hair growth was due to either surf skating or the Pandemic but happy either way. Thanks for the kind words and for watching!

[@idxart1509]

very nice! Great Job !

[@nadster76]

Awesome, lots of moves for me to learn from 🤙🔥

[@BenConley]

I would start at 2021 if anything haha. Thanks for watching!

[@imppao]

Hi! Great video! I'm 57 and started surfskate just before the pandemic and it kept me mentally sane during that bad period. I love your style. Personally I started with a Carver boards and then moved to Smoothstar (34 "Connor O'Leary). Lately I got back to Carver, I don't like the smoothstar wiggling too much (#kill the smoothstar wiggle) Ciao, from Italy 🤙

[@diegosouza18411]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing.

[@BenConley]

You’re welcome, thanks for watching 🤙 I’m going to make a version with commentary because I think it’s important to put into context what’s happening. Stay tuned!

[@peltotalo]

I am just starting surfskating at the age of 51. You're video is inspirational.

[@BenConley]

Awesome! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@clyl5676]

Wow you’re an inspiration man🤙🏽

[@BenConley]

Very much appreciated, glad it helps thanks for watching!

[@Towkeeyoh]

This is soooo inspiring for a beginner surfskater like me!! Thanks senpai!

[@BenConley]

Just Googled “senpai” 🤣 Glad it helps, thanks for watching!

[@Towkeeyoh]

@@BenConley hahaha it's also become internet slang, keep shredding!

[@BenConley]

@@Towkeeyoh Yeeeewww!

[@mikeuptegrove]

Your SurfSkate style definitely improved. I just saw you on the seaside and beyond and heard you say you were biting rails. I also see you focused heavily on the concept of, “compress and extend”, in your SurfSkate practice. I didn’t notice a lot of what I would call fin engagement or rail to rail use in your SurfSkate style. These are crucial for speed generation in surfing, but I’ve noticed all the big SurfSkate, “gurus”, seem to undermine this aspect of surfing, by pushing compress and extend. They call fin engagement the, “wiggle”, on a SurfSkate and say, “don’t do it”. I call it using your fins properly in the water to create lift, the same way a swimmer with fins fluttering them get forward propulsion, while it also engages your rail to rail surfing (a must) more fluidly. The compress and extend method that is pushed so hard by surf coaches using SurfSkates, requires like an endless perfect slopey wave without any inconsistencies, so you can mechanically compress and extend like a slinky does going down stairs (but the opposite, as it extends first and then compresses). Problem with surfing is: waves are inconsistent, and fin engagement becomes crucial when you need acceleration in ANY flat spots. And waves have lots of them. Surfing cannot be all top to bottom, so the compress and extend can’t be the only form of speed generation. I love the wiggle, far more useful than compress and extend in most conditions.

[@BenConley]

This is great info thanks for sharing! I respond in more detail on my 3-28-22 podcast episode, link in bio

[@noggin86]

Love your style!

[@BenConley]

Thank you!

[@adollaburst7687]

Love it!

[@BenConley]

Thank you!

[@bryaneditiontv600]

Great video, really cool

[@BenConley]

Thanks for watching!

[@697said]

with the sun god it's simple amazing

[@BenConley]

Thank you!

[@pankajciarz]

Pięknie, wymiatasz kolego ... ;)

[@BenConley]

Had to translate haha thank you!

[@idkar000]

hippier by the year :-) nice job and great style

[@BenConley]

Haha yes! Thank you very much and thanks for watching

[@kwkarol]

Nice hair growth progression too mate

[@BenConley]

Lol thank you, cheers!

[@gustavoplaza_]

Beautiful video man, your progress in the video is amazing. I started surfskating exactly one year ago, and I've been progressing and having lots of fun, it surely is great for body and mind. What do you prefer? CX or Surf simulator like the smoothstar? I started out with CX, and recently bought YOW Meraki style like system, and the difference is huge!

[@BenConley]

Thank you very much man! I like my Smoothstar the best but appreciate the more stable feeling of the Carvers when needed. Have a longer YOW (Calmon) which is rad but def on the Smoothstar the most. Thanks for watching!

[@gustavoplaza_]

@@BenConley Awesome! Need to get me a smoothstar system to try it out!

[@egor9526]

Nice hair progression!

[@BenConley]

Lol thanks for watching the growth!

[@golafred2859]

Hello, Ben, I had the exact same progression, I'm not only talking about the capillary one! ;-) ...but Smoothstar too.

[@BenConley]

Thank you! Sorry what do you mean by 'capillary one'?

[@golafred2859]

@@BenConley ... The same hair and beard. ;-)

[@tforte7004]

I never knew that’s what that style of skating is called. I’ve been doing it all this time. Concrete surfing :)

[@BenConley]

Waves whenever you want haha. Thanks for watching!

[@danielking8441]

Looking good Ben

[@BenConley]

Thank you and thanks for watching 🤙

[@oscargamboa4668]

Cool vids Mate! From your experience through the years and dif models, which one do you feel it simulate to surfing? I'm not gonna lie, I have tried some too..

[@BenConley]

Copy and pasting from another comment with a similar question - If I had to choose I prefer the SmoothStar because it's more responsive and has more freedom rail to rail making it easier to turn. That being said I like my Carver boards for stability and pushing (meaning pushing with one leg like a normal skateboard). So to sum it up, if I'm looking for flow and turns I like the SmoothStar. If I'm looking to run errands around town for transportation, I like the Carvers. Thanks for watching!

[@algrandson]

Good stuff Ben! Your videos a really helpful. What differences do you feel riding the SoothStar vs the Carver with C7? Do you still ride the Carvers? Thanks!!!

[@BenConley]

Happy to hear they are helpful and thanks for watching 🙏 Copy and pasted my reply to @Portugal Surfgirls who had a similar question below! If I had to choose I prefer the SmoothStar because it's more responsive and has more freedom rail to rail making it easier to turn. That being said I like my Carver boards for stability and pushing (meaning pushing with one leg like a normal skateboard). So to sum it up, if I'm looking for flow and turns I like the SmoothStar. If I'm looking to run errands around town for transportation, I like the Carvers.

[@algrandson]

@@BenConley Thanks, Ben. Keep it up!

[@Flynt89]

Hey, great video ! Did you keep the same wheelbase for all your boards or did you end up goin up/down in size ? I'm considering buying my second surfskate and I'm thinking about getting a shorter wheelbase to start being more aggressive in my carves but I don't know how much wheelbase affects the ride, I have only owned this 19" WB Yow and I don't know if going down tp 17" will be a really hard thing to do ? cheers !

[@BenConley]

You're in luck, I talk about wheelbase in this video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJuYdmeviL-BfM0 Yes wheelbase def impacts turning radius but in my opinion the front truck system is the most important consideration. If you're getting another YOW then that won't be a factor because both front truck systems are probably the same but if you are talking about another board/ brand then you'll have to consider not only wheelbase length but also the front truck system for that particular brand. I only have Carver and SmoothStar so I can only speak to those truck systems. SmoothStar has a much tighter turning radius than Carver C7. (C7 has a better turning radius than CX so not mentioning it). Another note - generally speaking, wheelbase should basically match your (surf) stance. At least that's what I read about why Yago Dora chose the 16 3/4" wheelbase length on his Carver boards. Thanks for watching!

[@Flynt89]

Thank you very much!

[@colargol3845]

Epic!

[@BenConley]

Thank you!

[@crackin2000]

Wow much improved much more crouching Tiger . spring like. I have found 97mm wheels a huge leap forward on my c7

[@BenConley]

Lol crouching Tiger hidden poo stance! Surfskating has def improved my flexibility. Interesting with the 97mm wheels. In what ways have they helped you?

[@crackin2000]

@@BenConley it's like there's about 20% more roll . for distance pumping you have to work a little less.

[@alchemydance7147]

Ben, at 3:05, how did you video the up shot? GoPro mounted to nose of board? What mount did you use? Great video! Thanks

[@BenConley]

I used a simple hardware store 2" spring clamp to clamp the standard quick release mount/plate of my GoPro Hero5 Session to the front of my board. Super easy way to attach a GoPro and it's simple to move around to different spots on the board. Thanks for watching!

[@mawriceowens7750]

nice inspiring video! i really like your riding style! can you tell me which song it tis around 4:30min? Keep it up! I am eager to see more! You got my sub!

[@BenConley]

Thanks for watching! The song is called 'Delta Blues' by SmidSmid. Thanks for your sub!!

[@ptsurfgirls]

Nice progression. I saw thar you started with a carver and now you are using a smoothstar. Which you prefer? Why? I'm currently with a carver c7 but I'm thinking in buy another one. Thank you.

[@BenConley]

Thank you very much! If I had to choose I prefer the SmoothStar because it's more responsive and has more freedom rail to rail making it easier to turn. That being said I like my Carver boards for stability and pushing (meaning pushing with one leg like a normal skateboard). So to sum it up, if I'm looking for flow and turns I like the SmoothStar. If I'm looking to run errands around town for transportation, I like the Carvers.

[@ptsurfgirls]

@@BenConley perfect explanation! Thank you!

[@vznquest]

nice progress. after all this time, which board/trucks do you like the most?

[@BenConley]

Up until I recently got the YOW “41 Calmon I would def would have said my SmoothStar Filipe Toledo #77. Now it’s hard to decide between both boards because they are totally different. I love having a long and short option in the quiver for different feels and moods. Thanks for watching!

[@southcoastpauly]

Been surf skating for about 2months now, and my fitness is improving because of the cross training aspect. And in the water my turns are more drawn out and there more flow. Should have been doing this years ago. 🤔

[@BenConley]

Leg burners on speed dial 😆 Thanks for watching!

[@Digiphex]

Definitely long hair looks more badass. I am growing mine out.

[@BenConley]

Haha thank you, thanks for watching!

[@jesusrangelb.1944]

nice video

[@ruslankruglov4996]

Hey mate! Great video, what size are wheels on your Carver and durability?? Thanks

[@BenConley]

I use the same wheels that came with the board so 69MM Mag Smoke 78A. Thanks for watching!

[@desdeelairejd3956]

🤟🏽

[@BenConley]

🤙

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

Same board I started on!

[@BenConley]

Not sure if it was the same for you but I realized very quickly it was too small to be learning on haha. Thanks for watching!

[@MarktheLandlockedSurfer]

@@BenConley I never saw anyone else surfskating here for the first 4 months so I had no basis for comparison! I made it work but as soon as I tried something different it didn’t see a lot of use though my kids loved it!

[@Silveradoroad]

Great video! Why from carver to smoothstar?

[@BenConley]

I had ridden a few Carvers before I got the SmoothStar and wanted to try something new. I saw a video of Filipe Toledo riding one and this video from Kale Brock helped too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXvNqHV8e7xnb6c It seemed like the SmoothStar was made specifically to help with surf training. There’s more info about my preference between the two brands in my reply to Portugal Surfgirls question. Thanks for watching!

[@POLPO_WOOD]

How tall are you? Nice progression, I also ride a carver 31,75 inch with 19 inch wheelbase, thinking of going to YOW but not sure what board to take, I am 1,91 cm tall

[@BenConley]

I am 5'11'' and 180 pounds on a good day. I'm interested in a really long YOW board just to try something different. Thanks for watching!

[@pokeypickle3]

Excellent that you have shown your progression. I am too “afraid” to film myself. I actually lock my phone in the car while I skate. I will get my gf to film me next time she comes alobg to watch me.

[@pokeypickle3]

I wished I purchased a SmoothStar 4 years ago but I was saving for a Surf/Ocean ski at that time.

[@BenConley]

I totally understand. Most of the time when I’m skating I’m not filming because I want to enjoy it without devices around. But I will film when I’m working on something specific or when I feel I need to see what I need to improve on. It’s def scary, all the footage from before 2021 makes me cringe and I can still see lots to work on from the 2021 footage haha. Thanks for watching!

[@cleobertfrancisco9879]

Not sure. Tried both carver and smoothstar. Sold smoothstar within a week. Carver cx with orangutang bushing is the perfect setup for me. Very soft/turny and lots of rebound/energy each turn which which generates double the speed of smoothstar.

[@BenConley]

Glad it's working out for you! I respond to your comment in more detail on my 1-17-23 podcast, thanks for watching!

[@NunalSaPaa]

Bought one. Hope I don't get too many falls, haha!

[@BenConley]

What did you get? Hope you’re having fun! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@NunalSaPaa]

@@BenConley I got the Decathlon Oxelo Longboard Surfskate Carve 540. Been wanting to learn how to surf but don't know how to swim, so I thought skimboarding then. However, it's quite a travel to get to proper surf/skimboarding spots here so skateboarding then, haha, but eventually landed on a surfskate after I saw Mark the Landlocked Surfer's review of the Carve 540.

[@bugnut82]

Please tell me how to stop being so terrified of doing things in front of other people. This guy is living his life, I wish I could too. I would never try anything like he is doing unless I was in some desert with no one else around. I am already 40, I ruined the first half of my life with so many regrets it hurts to think about, and I am on track to ruining the last half of my life too.

[@BenConley]

You can do it. I respond in more detail to your comment on my 2-14-22 podcast episode, link in bio!

[@pokeypickle3]

I purchased my SmoothStar Toledo 77, 4 weeks and two days. I am still only doing flat ground. I fell a few times already and hurt my wrist. Fortunately I was wearing a wrist guard. Unfortunately I need my wrist to heal before I can pop up on a surfboard.

[@BenConley]

Ouch, sorry to hear that. I had a buddy who messed his wrist up the first day he got his Surfskate and was out weeks from surfing. Smart to wear a wrist guard. I’m pretty happy on flat ground myself haha. Thanks for watching 🙏

[@duynguyen-uh6rt]

Thanks. Now i know exactly how bad i am. Haha

[@BenConley]

🤣

[@BrentYoshida]

Which do you recommend for surf training?

[@BenConley]

It really depends on what type of surfing you’re training for but for shortboard turning on flat ground I prefer Smoothstar. For barefoot longboard cross stepping and flow I like my 40 inch YOW Calmon. And for bowls and parks which I wish I did more of I prefer Carvers because they’re a bit more stable. Thanks for watching!

[@BrentYoshida]

@@BenConley thank you very much! These are helpful for distinguishing between the brands. I ended up getting a carver cx since I found a great deal. It’s a bit stiff, but loosened the trucks and feeling better. SmoothStar seem ideal, but a bit too expensive and hard to find used in US

[@BenConley]

@@BrentYoshida Hearing SmoothStar is now available in the US!

[@BrentYoshida]

@@BenConley danggg it. I’ll look into it

[@julioluque6223]

How old where you when you started?

[@BenConley]

I was 36 when I began my commitment to surfing and 37 when I started surf skating. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!

[@KINOSHINOBI]

Enjoy the Smoothstar more?

[@BenConley]

Compared to the Carvers I have to say yes because rail to rail there's more freedom. I just got my first YOW board though and am having fun on that! The YOW is much longer than my Smoothstar so hard to compare the systems. YOW feels comparable to Smoothstar. Thanks for watching! kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqnJo4OvZ5iIgs0

[@KINOSHINOBI]

@@BenConley thx for that dude 🤙 Yup ur right man. Each to their own personal pref. I love the classic surfy vibe decks from Yow and love the aggressiveness of the #77 and Holy decks from Smoothstar. The Meraki S5 truck is insanely smooth. I threw a Meraki clone on a #77 deck with a rear CX style truck and it cuts like samurai sword! Hehehehehe

[@BenConley]

@@KINOSHINOBI Haha sick dude happy ripping!

[@boris4344]

After all this way, you should try bowling now, dude

[@BenConley]

Haha! The Dude abides.